Nottinghamshire

Saveena Johal
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

With the race for Champions League football reaching the final few hurdles, we asked our fan contributors of five clubs involved to let us know if their team will make the top five and if not, what happens next...

Nottingham Forest are going to make the top five because…

Despite the recent drop in form, we have shown we can take points consistently throughout this season.

The run-in for us is, on paper, more favourable than that of our nearest competitors. We play Chelsea in the final game - they also play Newcastle - and the Magpies have a tough match against Arsenal, so they will likely drop points.

Injuries have impacted our recent run and there are signs of fatigue at this stage of the campaign, but qualification for Champions League football remains in our hands. Win our games and we will hear that famous anthem played at The City Ground next season, whatever our competitors do.

But if they don't qualify, it will mean…

We hopefully will still see European football at The City Ground next season.

This would still represent the best campaign of football the city of Nottingham has seen for 30 years. The club would be back with the European greats, helping us keep and attract top-class players and push on to greater heights in the coming seasons.

After the most competitive Premier League for a while, we can be proud of the consistency the team has shown, and the fans would look back on a season where we beat Liverpool at Anfield, Manchester United at Old Trafford and at home, Manchester City at The City Ground - making countless memories and enjoying away days as well as another trip to Wembley (despite the result).

There would be lots to remember and build upon, even if we do not get to the Champions League. The team and fans have been an inspiration this season and that bodes well for the coming years for Forest fans.

Find more from Saveena Johal at Punjabi Forest, external

Here is what the other four contenders' fans thought about the race for Champions League football...

Man City will make the top five because "simply, we are one of the best teams in the country"

Newcastle will make the top five because "we have the number one striker in world football"

Chelsea will make the top five because of "belief generated" by win over Liverpool

Aston Villa will make the top five because "we know exactly what we need to do"

On the latest episode of his BBC Sounds podcast, Kyle Walker talks about Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool's title, the race for the Champions League and dealing with injury at AC Milan.

Listen to the episode

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Leicester City (kick-off 14:15 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Murillo is a doubt after being forced off with an injury at Selhurst Park on Monday. He has been involved in "part of the training sessions" this week but his availability will need to be assessed tomorrow.

• Callum Hudson-Odoi will be unavailable but it is hoped the winger will feature again this season.

• He has tried to pinpoint a reason for their recent mixed form but he is yet to find any answers: "I think it is understandable. It is part of the game and part of life - the ups and the downs. I think we improved against Crystal Palace and now we require improvement against Leicester City."

• He said Newcastle United's game against Chelsea on Sunday at 12:00 BST will "upset" their warm-up before taking on Leicester City because it will be "impossible" to keep the players away from their phones and TVs, but he believes it is "better to see these things".

• However, he did concede he has not been keeping a keen eye on other fixtures that might help their quest for Champions League football: "I take the 'ifs' out of my head. I don't work on 'ifs' - I actually try to avoid them. Expectations and perceptions of reality mess with your mind."

• On how he is coping with the fight for Champions League football: "In the same way that I've been dealing with it since the start of this season. This is a stressful job but it is also enjoyable, especially when you see the improvement of the players and when the fans are happy. I think we should be proud in these moments and just enjoy it."

• He is looking for his players to "enjoy the moment", "be proud of being in the fight", "play well", "compete for every ball" and "do everything that they can" with only three games left of the 2024-25 season.

• He is not underestimating relegated Leicester City, saying they will bring a "difficult game" to the City Ground because they have plenty of "talented" players.

• He added: "A season like theirs can happen to any team, but the squad talent is there."

• He voiced his respect for Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has endured a difficult time in the Foxes hotseat: "It is a tough job - and us, as comrades, we try to support each other."

• On the "added element" of it being a local derby: "We have to make sure that at our home, we are the ones in charge of the East Midlands. We have a lot of people working with us that are from Nottingham, and they make sure we know what this game means."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray talked about Forest's European dreams on the latest Shut Up And Show More Football podcast: "It could feel different if Forest beat Leicester on Sunday, especially with West Ham away to follow, who are hardly firing on all cylinders at the moment.

"There are a number of fans who are, quite rightly, looking up and others who are looking below them to make sure Forest are getting some European football.

"If they can keep Chelsea at arm's length then the last day could be a shoot-out. Chelsea have Newcastle and Manchester United to face compared with Forest who have Leicester and West Ham. You would think that it is in Forest's grasp to keep Chelsea within a couple of points, if not go past them.

"From Forest's perspective, they have 19th and 17th-placed teams left to play so it is very much in their hands to keep things alive until the final day."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds